Brent Hilliard

Position: Associate Head Coach (Long Beach State, 1993) E-mail/Phone: hilliard@sandiego.edu/260-2976

Brent Hilliard is entering his 11th season with the Toreros' volleyball program and was promoted to Associate Head Coach after serving as USD's interim head coach for the 2006 season, while head coach Jennifer Petrie took the season off to spend time with her family.

In 2011, Hilliard will again assume the reigns of the volleyball program as head coach Jennifer Petrie is taking the season off to spend time with her new born daughter Caroline. Hilliard is no stranger to this roll as in 2006, Hilliard was in a similar situation, and he led the Toreros to the West Coast Conference championship as well as a berth into the Sweet-16 of the NCAA Tournament. He helped guide five players to all-conference accolades highlighted by the 2006 WCC Player of the Year Kristen Carlson. For his efforts, Hilliard was named the WCC Coach of the Year.

Hilliard has been essential in San Diego's run of six consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances and USD's NCAA Sweet 16 and WCC Championship season of 2004. Hilliard has done a remarkable job in recruiting and developing young talent. In 2004, Hilliard led a USD recruiting effort that was recognized 25th among all Division I programs by Prep Volleyball.

Hilliard brings a wealth of volleyball experience to the USD staff, earning NCAA Player of the Year accolades at Long Beach State and representing the United States at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona. Hilliard came to USD in 2001 after serving as the Head Volleyball Coach at Cuyamaca Junior College in 1999 and 2000.

In 1992, as an opposite or right side player at Long Beach State, Hilliard was named the NCAA Player of the Year, leading his team to a 31-1 record. Hilliard earned All-America honors four times in his college career and was a three-time selection as a first-team NCAA All- American. In 1991 Hilliard propelled the 49ers to a National Championship, beating USC in Honolulu, avenging a championship match loss to USC the year before.

Hilliard was selected to play for the U.S.A. in the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona. As the team's youngest member, he helped the U.S.A. capture a Bronze medal with a victory over Cuba. One year later, Hilliard won a silver medal in the 1993 Pan American Games. Hilliard also owns a Bronze medal won at the 1991 World Cup.

Hilliard continued his volleyball career as a professional in Europe from 1995-1998, playing two seasons in Belgium and one season in the Netherlands. In 1996, Hilliard and the Maasiek Volleyball club from Belgium won the country's championship and competed in the European Champions League.

Brent resides in nearby Del Mar with his wife Beth and daughter Audrey.